Finding 'The Right Catholic School for You'

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Archdiocese of Washington, which maintains the largest non-public school system in the Washington region, today announced a new campaign, “The Right Catholic School for You: A Faith-Based Education that Lasts a Lifetime.” The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the value of a Catholic school education and enable families to select which of the archdiocese’s 93 schools in Washington, D.C. and Maryland are the best fit for their children, based on their specific needs and interests.

The campaign, which includes a new website, www.adwcatholicschools.org, and a detailed search tool, emphasizes that every Catholic school within the archdiocese shares certain overarching qualities. All 93 schools offer rigorous academics, a strong moral foundation, and a focus on faith, family, and life-long learning that promotes growth within a welcoming community. At the same time, each school offers a variety of specific programs and attributes, such as extracurricular activities, and expresses its Catholic identity and commitment to academic excellence in its own way.

“In our Catholic schools, shared values and shared experiences encourage families to nurture each other and their Catholic faith for the long term. That common framework unites all Catholic schools within the archdiocese,” said Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. “At the same time, each school expresses these qualities in its own way. I encourage you to explore the special strengths of each of our Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Washington.”

The campaign highlights a wide variety of accredited Catholic schools across the District of Columbia and Maryland:

65 elementary schools (pre-kindergarten through grade 8)

20 high schools

8 early learning centers

All schools within the Archdiocese of Washington follow a curriculum based on national standards set by professional organizations, and teachers are required to be in compliance with archdiocesan certification policy. Archdiocese of Washington Catholic schools have received the Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education 40 times since 1982, the first year of the award.

"Within the Archdiocese, you can find schools that offer science and technology or special education programs. You can find schools that emphasize the arts, have strong sports programs, or offer significant tuition assistance. You can find schools that cater to students who are not native speakers of English or that meet other needs you or your children may have,” said Superintendent William Ryan, III. “We encourage families to consider all of the outstanding options offered by the Archdiocese of Washington family of Catholic schools.”